Improvement in dry gas-meters



aient (titties.

PERRY HODGE,'0E SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 108,263, dated October 1-1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRY' GAS-METERS.

The Schedulereferre to in these Letters Patent and making part cf the same To all 'who-m it may concern:

Beit known that I, PERRY Hopen, of Seneca Falls, in the county of Seneca and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dry Gas-Meters, of which the following is a specification Nature of the Invention.

This invention consists- First, in such an. arrangement ot the valve, relatively to the valve-seat, that -the flow of gas is not fully obstructed inthe shifting ofthe valve.

Second, in thev means employed for preventing the escape of the gas around the axis of the diaphragm.

Third, in the mechanical arrangement by which the shifting of the valve is produced.

General Description.

In the drawing-- Figure 1 is a perspective view, showinga portion of the rea-r chamber .broken away, to exhibit the diaphragm. l

Figurel a front elevation, with the outer plate removed,- to exhibit the arrangement for operating the "alve l Figure 3, a plan, with the top ofthe case removed, to exhibit the same parts shown iu igffl.

Figures Ltand 5, detail views.

A is the front, and B the rear portions ofthe case, the former holding the valve and its operating parts, and the latter receiving the gas through thc ports a a, after it has passed the valve'.

.Thev front portion of tile-easehas a valve-chamber, C, which receives the gas through inductionpipe b b, and discharges it through .eduction-pipe c c, after it has passed the compartments of the measur`` ing-chamber, as will presently be described.

In the valve-chamber is situated a valve-seat, D,

with a valve, E, playing over it, in a manner similar to the slide-valve of a steam-engine'.

The seat is provided with three passages, el d d', the two outer ones of which communicate with the ports a a, which open into the'measuring-chamber, while the middle one communicates with the exit pipe c c.

It will be seen that as the valve is alternately thrown, covering the middle and one outside passage, it will conduct the spent gas from the measuring-chamber oft through the exit pipe. Y

The measuring-chamber has a central vertical diaphragm, G,which divides it into two compartments,

'with which the ports (t a respectively con'nnunicate,

This diaphragn'i is preferably made partially ot' metal and partially ot' leatheror other flexible material, so that it may be flexible or yielding, to admit the gas on one side, and expel it on the other.

The axis f of the diaphragm passes out into the front part ot the case, and is kept gas-tight by a rub-` ber, or equivalent tube, (l, which incloses it, heilig fast at one end to the back of the case, and at the other to the axis itself. This does not interferein the least with the rocking of the axis, but keeps 1t .packed tight under all circumstances.

To the outer end of the axis is rigidly attached a rock-lever, I. To this, in turn, is attached a rod, K, which connects at the opposite end with a crankarm, L. This crank-arm is jointed to the journal l: ot' 'a double bexnt lever, M, which passes down and rests in bearings Z I, thence rises upon the opposite side, to form the reverse bend M', to the top of which is attached a rod, m, connecting with valve E.

A rod, n, connects the bearing- 7c with the shaft of a balance-wheel, N, and a rod,l l, also connect-s the upper end of the crank-arm with 'a spring, 1v, below.

The action ofthe apparatus is as follows: The gas ows into the valve-chamber through the induction-pipe; thence it passes through th'e uncovered passage d and port a., into one of the compartments of chamber B; here it presses upon the ilexible diaphragm, and gradually forces it toward the other side of the chamber.

The turning of the axis f gives mot-i011 to roc-klever I, and consequently to the crank-arm L,through the opposite port, and thus reverses the ilow ot' the gas. This action is regular and uniform, and perfect in' its result.

In the throw of the valve, the covering portion of the valveis a little less than the width of the gaspassage, thereby leaving a small portion open, as

shown at p, iig. 4.

The ordinary dial or indicating arrangement may be usedfor registering the amount of gas.

I am aware` that the general features ot' this meter are old, and I make no claim to such.

The novel feature is the arraugementof parts by which the valve is operated. Ihis feature I believe to be new.

Claim.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to securc'by Letters lla-tent, is

'.llxc rock-lever I, rod K, crank-arm L, lever M,

spring rod u', and balance-wheel N, when combined Witnesses:

BENSON Owns," WM. K. MILLER. 

